NR #1996-085 Classis Toronto Examines Ruth Hofman for Ordination as First
Female Christian Reformed Minister of the Word
On July 4, Ruth Hofman became the first female candidate to be examined by a
CRC classis for ordination to the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the
139-year history of the denomination. The event came during a special meeting
of Classis Toronto just weeks after the 1996 CRC Synod said "no" to 24
overtures requesting a change to last year's decision on women in office
which allowed churches to ordain women as elders and ministers by, in effect,
bypassing the church order. At the same time at Synod 1996 three women were
declared candidates for the ministry in the CRC.
NR #1996-085: For Immediate Release
Classis Toronto Examines Ruth Hofman for Ordination as First Female Christian
Reformed Minister of the Word
by John Van Dyk
Managing Editor, Christian Renewal
Distributed by United Reformed News Service
WILLOWDALE, Ontario (July 9, 1996) URNS - For all intents and purposes it was
a typical Christian Reformed ordination examination. Delegates offered sermon
evaluations, questions were asked in the areas of practica and biblical and
theological competency. What set the July 4 exam apart, however, was the fact
that a woman was answering the questions.
Ruth Hofman became the first female candidate to be examined by a CRC
classis for ordination to the ministry of the Word and sacraments in the
139-year history of the denomination. Hofman's examination was preceded last
March by that of Lesli van Milligen of North Hills CRC in the Detroit suburb
of Troy, who was ordained by Classis Lake Erie as an evangelist - a limited
office allowing persons to preach, administer the sacraments, and do most
forms of pastoral ministry in emerging mission churches or as staff
assistants in organized churches.
The event came during a special meeting of Classis Toronto just weeks after
the 1996 CRC Synod said "no" to 24 overtures requesting a change to last
year's decision on women in office which allowed churches to ordain women as
elders and ministers by, in effect, bypassing the church order. At the same
time at Synod 1996 three women were declared candidates for the ministry in
the CRC.
Twenty-four years after the debate over women in office began in earnest,
and dozens of study committee reports later, Hofman faced an audience of her
colleagues, fellow ministers, elders, members of her home congregation, First
Toronto CRC, and other interested observers. After two-and-a-half hours of
fielding questions ranging from her own spiritual development to specific
points of theology, the chairman of the meeting, Rev. Jack Vos of First CRC
in Barrie entertained a motion to accept Ruth Hofman for ordination as a
minister of the Word and Sacraments in the CRC. After a brief executive
session in which delegates discussed and voted on the motion, Hofman entered
the sanctuary of the Willowdale CRC to a standing ovation and sustained
applause.
Explaining the decision of classis, Vos said the delegates asked themselves
a basic question: "Are we persuaded that the Lord has laid His hand on you to
become His servant?" The decision, said Vos on the part of the majority of
the delegates, was obvious from the applause.
Long a proponent of women's ordination, Vos offered two words of pastoral
advice to Hofman: "Preach the Word with passion," and realize that "it will
take time for people to get used to the idea of women preaching" in the CRC.
Vos said he did see some hope that over time opinions and attitudes would
change. He mentioned the example of his mother-in-law, an opponent of women
in office, who told him that if she was to hear a woman preach "she was
likely to listen better, and would not focus on the gender of the speaker."
Vos called the declaration of ordination, "a rich moment that you will
treasure, and that we will treasure as well," although in reference to the
intentional absence of delegates from two churches in particular, Vos said
"it is unfortunate that there are some who could not participate in good
conscience."
Two churches, Maranatha CRC in Woodbridge and Springdale CRC, both located
north of Toronto, sent letters to classis expressing that position. The
Springdale letter stated the matter in no uncertain terms: "We cannot
participate in an action that is unbiblical." Woodbridge consistory's letter
explained that "the decision of the 1994 Synod accurately reflects our
position and we can't in good conscience participate." That synod took a
strong position against women in office when it stated that "the clear
teaching of Scripture prohibits women holding the offices of minister, elder
and evangelist." Three other churches did not send delegates. Covenant CRC in
Barrie offered no reason to classis for its absence, Orillia CRC informed
classis that no one was available to attend, and the Chinese CRC in Toronto
attended but did not send delegates. After reading the letters of the two
churches, Vos expressed what he said were the feelings of classis. "While we
regret the lack of participation of the two councils, we do respect their
position."
Called by First Toronto as an "expounder" three years ago based on the
so-called "compromise decision" of Synod 1992, Hofman has pastored the since
that time and is no stranger to the classis. Her church is also home to a
homosexual support group called AWAre, or "As We Are," headed by church
member Dr. Hendrik Hart, who is also a professor at the Institute for
Christian Studies in Toronto. The group is controversial for many because of
its non-judgmental stance toward homosexuality.
Although appearing initially tentative at the beginning of the examination,
Hofman relaxed as the examination progressed, choosing her words carefully in
response to various questions. Rev. John Luth, co-pastor of First Barrie, was
the questioner in the area of practica, and Rev. Paul Stadt, co-pastor of
Georgetown CRC, led the questioning in the areas of biblical and theological
matters.
On a number of questions Luth seemed to leave the door open to Hofman to
comment on the last two decades of debate over women in office, but Hofman
chose not to enter. Luth asked if there were hindrances to the gospel in the
CRC. Hofman answered simply, "We've been stuck on issues, but they won't hold
us back if we are a praying church." Asked about the "general health of the
CRC," Hofman said she believes the Spirit is equipping the church. "We are
said to be an argumentative church, one that airs its family laundry," said
Hofman, but "we don't have any arguments that aren't around trying to
understand what God is saying in His Word."
It was under Stadt's questioning that certain "sticky" issues were broached.
Asked about her response to the charismatic movement and particularly the
phenomenon called the "Toronto Blessing," Hofman said that she has attended
the "Toronto Blessing" meetings, and would not discourage anyone from
attending. "I don't know what God might have in mind for any of us....said
Hofman, referring to the movement of the Spirit in people's lives. "Go," she
advised, "but go with discernment."
Asked about the growing movement toward cooperation from some in the
evangelical community with Roman Catholics, Hofman said that the Catholic
Church was not the same church "that it was when we protested it" at the time
of the Reformation, and said that there is more attention to the Word of God
in the Catholic Church then there once was. "We're a lot closer together than
we once were."
Although not asked directly about her position on the issue of
homosexuality, Stadt instead asked for Hofman's opinion of the 1973 synod
report on homosexuality.
Hofman tiptoed delicately. "For its time it was ahead," said Hofman. "There
were few churches at the time addressing those types of concerns. It was very
well done in terms of its conclusions from Scripture."
Making reference to the recent decision of synod to appoint a committee to
restudy the issue, Hofman said that the church needs to be more prayerful,
mindful and pastoral to homosexuals. "I presume the study coming forward will
note that we are not as pastoral as we should have been," said Hofman.
Asked about her views on feminism, Hofman again walked delicately through
the potential mine field, focussing instead on those in the feminist movement
who feel the need to change their image of God in the face of what they
consider to be inequality and an imbalance in the church. Hofman firmly
disagreed with that position. "I don't need to change my image of God....I
know that my God is a transcendent God."
Synodical deputy Dr. H. Vander Plaat representing Classis Niagara, reopened
the homosexuality issue when he posed a question that was raised in the
debates over women in office in his classis a few years earlier. "What do you
say to the argument that the issue of women in office necessarily opens the
door to the acceptance of homosexual ministers?" asked Vander Plaat.
"I don't see the consequence is necessarily there," said Hofman, citing
examples of denominations which for years have ordained women ministers and
yet do not have homosexuals in the pulpit.
Comparing the state of women in creation and the state of homosexuality,
Hofman asked "Is homosexuality a distortion of God's creation?"
"Yes," answered Hofman, whereas the state of women in creation is not a
distortion. "We have different discussions there," said Hofman.
Later in the evening, Rev. Herman Van Niejenhuis, pastor of Willowdale CRC
and co-author of a report on homosexuality for Classis Toronto, asked Hofman
for a one-word answer to the question, "Is your sexuality distorted?"
"And I want a one-word answer, yes or no," said Van Niejenhuis. Appearing
somewhat flustered, Hofman hesitated, attempted to qualify her response, was
cut off by Van Niejenhuis, and finally answered, "Yes, it is."
Hofman, the first "official" woman minister in the CRC, is to be ordained at
First Toronto CRC on Saturday, August.24.
Cross-References to Related Articles:
#1993-036: Ruth Hofman to Pastor First Toroto CRC as "Expounder"
#1996-025: Lake Erie Ordains First Christian Reformed Clergywoman
#1996-076: CRC Synod Rejects 25 Overtures and Communications Calling for End
to Classical Option on Ordination of Women
Contact List:
Rev. Hendrik Bruinsma, Pastor, Maranatha Christian Reformed Church
4561 Langstaff Rd., Woodbridge, ON L4L 2B2 * H/O: (905) 851-0044
Rev. Timothy Chan, Pastor, Chinese Christian Reformed Church
75 Four Winds Dr., North York, ON M3J 1K7 * O: (416) 663-7124 * H: (416)
749-7238
First Christian Reformed Church
PO Box 291, Orillia, ON L3V 3T9 * O: (705) 326-3355
Dr. Hendrik Hart, Professor of Philosophy, Institute for Christian Studies
229 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R4 * (416) 979-2331
Mrs. Ruth Hofman, Expounder, First Christian Reformed Church
63-67 Taunton Rd., Toronto, ON M4S 2P2 * O: (416) 481-4912
Rev. John Luth, Co-Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church
PO Box 875, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y6 * O: (705) 734-9166
Rev. Howard McPhee, Pastor, Springdale Christian Reformed Church
RR #4, Bradford, ON L3Z 2A6 * O: (905) 775-3731 * H: (905) 775-3413
Rev. Paul Stadt, Pastor, Georgetown Christian Reformed Church
RR #5, Georgetown, ON L7G 4S8 * H: (905) 877-9998
Dr. Hilbert Vander Plaat, Synodical Deputy, Classis Niagara
5022 Hartwood Ave., Beamsville, ON L0R 1B5 * H/O: (905) 563-4659
Rev. H. Aubrey Van Hoff, Pastor, Covenant Christian Reformed Church
PO Box 785, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y5 * O: (705) 734-0651 * H: (705) 722-7832
Rev. Herman Van Niejenhuis, Pastor, Willowdale Christian Reformed Church
76 Chelmsford Ave., Willowdale, ON M2R 2W4 * O: (416) 221-7829 * H: (416)
221-9671
Rev. Jack Vos, Pastor, First Christian Reformed Church
26 Broadmoor Ave., Barrie, ON L4N 3M9 CANADA * H/O: (705) 726-2894
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